2018 NBA Draft

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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#121 » by Duke4life831 » Wed Oct 5, 2016 5:29 am

Justwar wrote:Duval will struggle to get drafted first rd because he's not a freak and his transcripts are basically a repeat of mudiay, ayton, Ferguson. He'll go late first early second but the pgs in this class really don't do much for me. I have more hope for diallo eventually becoming one then i would duval being elite.


Wait 1st round or 1st overall? I agree hes not going 1st overall but no way he falls out of the 1st round. This dude aint falling out of the top 10 and probably not even the top 5. The NBA doesnt care about his transcripts and he actually transferred out of API, so only one year at API probably wont hurt his ability to be eligible. And the dude has perfect size for a PG, 6'3 with a 6'8 wingspan basically identical size to Westbrook and looks like he might end up as built as Westbrook. Duval's first step, speed and handles are elite, he may not have Rose or Westbrook hops, but he is definitely close when it comes to the rest when youre talking athletically. His handles are up there with DSJ as some of the best handles in high school since Kyrie. And defensively he is looked at as one of the top end perimeter defenders. Ya his jumper is garbage but he has solid form and it is improving. I feel like there are 3 elite prospects in this class with Bamba/Ayton/Porter then there is Duval just on the outside. If he can continue to improve his jumper he may join that group this time next year.

His hops arent that bad either. Here is just one of many examples you can find very quickly on him showing off his hops

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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#122 » by Justwar » Wed Oct 5, 2016 5:55 am

If he was going to be eligible duke and Kentucky would be recruiting him. This is a down year for pgs. Billy preston has the same api issues and tried to escape it. Would be smart for future prospects to just not go there. But duval is just overrated imo because the crop is bad. I honestly think ten years from now we'll look back and either say collin sexton was the best or a sg that converts to point.
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#123 » by Duke4life831 » Wed Oct 5, 2016 6:08 am

Justwar wrote:If he was going to be eligible duke and Kentucky would be recruiting him. This is a down year for pgs. Billy preston has the same api issues and tried to escape it. Would be smart for future prospects to just not go there. But duval is just overrated imo because the crop is bad. I honestly think ten years from now we'll look back and either say collin sexton was the best or a sg that converts to point.


Rumors over the past week or so was Duval has been put on track where the academics wouldnt be an issue and would be eligible. All of this kinda got backed up today with the news that Duval has reopened his recruiting up. Its no secret Duval wants to go to a big blue blood program. Look for UK and Duke to go all in on Duval very soon. Especially Duke, Duke has swung and missed on about 4 PGs already this class. And with Grayson leaving and them now expecting Frank Jackson to leave, Duke is desperate for a PG that class. But ya academics are no longer supposed to be an issue with him.
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#124 » by No-Man » Wed Oct 5, 2016 1:52 pm

I dont really see where Porter has a higher ceiling than Duval, his floor is indeed good, but Duval's potential for me is sky high, and second only to Bamba and Ayton in his class.
Honestly it's a weak-ish crop in general, unless you are buying stock on those raw bigs.
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#125 » by Justwar » Thu Oct 6, 2016 1:34 am

Ky will not touch a prime prep aka api or whatever they are again after mudiay. We could of easily had top ten Billy preston who said we were his dream school but that school will always rule you out. Uk is aiming for two of three from trae young traemont waters and quade green. All very good college guys and kinda meh pro prospects.
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#126 » by NormanBU » Sat Oct 22, 2016 8:17 am

DraftExpress published their 2018 mock with 3 european players in the Top 9 and Doncic unsurprsingly in the Top 3: http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2018/
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#127 » by Big_C_KU » Sat Oct 22, 2016 2:39 pm

Duke4life831 wrote:
Justwar wrote:If he was going to be eligible duke and Kentucky would be recruiting him. This is a down year for pgs. Billy preston has the same api issues and tried to escape it. Would be smart for future prospects to just not go there. But duval is just overrated imo because the crop is bad. I honestly think ten years from now we'll look back and either say collin sexton was the best or a sg that converts to point.


Rumors over the past week or so was Duval has been put on track where the academics wouldnt be an issue and would be eligible. All of this kinda got backed up today with the news that Duval has reopened his recruiting up. Its no secret Duval wants to go to a big blue blood program. Look for UK and Duke to go all in on Duval very soon. Especially Duke, Duke has swung and missed on about 4 PGs already this class. And with Grayson leaving and them now expecting Frank Jackson to leave, Duke is desperate for a PG that class. But ya academics are no longer supposed to be an issue with him.


Duke is in the same spot as Kansas when it comes to PGs this class. You guys have Frank Jackson's possibly return causing PGs to hesitate to pick Duke. We have Graham's probably return causing PGs to hesitate to pick KU (along with the fact that we have a terrible re reputation for top PGs). Hoping you guys get Matt Coleman and then Frank Jackson returns then Trae Young picks UK leaving KU as Duval's best option.
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#128 » by jrob23 » Tue Jan 3, 2017 1:18 am

So I didn't want to start talking about 2018 until I had a chance to do some research. A cursory glance last year made me think it would be a step below 2017 and above 2016's class. Now? I'm starting to get really excited for the class. There's potential for it to be on par if not better than 2017 which is saying a hell of a lot. There's so much more size than 2017. And, it isn't at the cost of guards either because there's lots of those too. Unlike 2017 where we are pretty set with what we're going to get, there is still a lot of time for kids to grow both physically and skills wise where they can enter the first round discussion. I won't know if it's as deep a class as 2017 but it's early.
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#129 » by doordoor123 » Tue Jan 3, 2017 7:19 am

Since there are so many top recruits this year I think there's a good chance a good amount of guys return to college thinking that they could become a higher draft pick the next year. Guys going in the late teens could move into the lottery and bubble firsts could securely be taken in the first round.
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#130 » by Duke4life831 » Tue Jan 3, 2017 8:09 am

jrob23 wrote:So I didn't want to start talking about 2018 until I had a chance to do some research. A cursory glance last year made me think it would be a step below 2017 and above 2016's class. Now? I'm starting to get really excited for the class. There's potential for it to be on par if not better than 2017 which is saying a hell of a lot. There's so much more size than 2017. And, it isn't at the cost of guards either because there's lots of those too. Unlike 2017 where we are pretty set with what we're going to get, there is still a lot of time for kids to grow both physically and skills wise where they can enter the first round discussion. I won't know if it's as deep a class as 2017 but it's early.


2018 to me is the 99 cent version of 2017. I think just like 2017, 2018 has a top tier of about 5 guys. Now I think the 5 in 2018 are a step down from the 2017 guys but they're still something to get excited about. Ayton has all the physical tools you could ever ask for in a 5 in today's game. Bamba is Gobert with AD athleticism. Porter is a very explosive 6'10 wing with a very very promising jumper. Duval is a PG with great size, elite athleticism, an elite handle (better than Kyrie at the same age) and a jumper that is bad but has greatly improved his form so there is promise there. Than there is Carter who can either be looked at as a slightly more athletic Horford, or I'm starting to see some Cousins comparisons as well. I don't know anything about Euro guys but Doncic is supposed to be legit as well. I love the potential of the 5 guys, just a little more question marks compared to the guys at the top of the 2017 draft.

After them is where you start seeing the big difference between the 17 and 18 draft. The depth just isn't the same. You got guys like Troy Brown, Kevin Knox, Sexton, maybe Trent jr who are intriguing but they aren't the same type of prospects as guys like Monk, Markkanen, Fox, Isaac and so on. But I definitely think it's going to be a draft where if a team gets a top 5 pick they will be happy.
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#131 » by No-Man » Tue Jan 3, 2017 8:13 am

I'd take Troy Brown Jr. well ahead of any of the 2017 you list in that range honestly.
I agree with the top5 having more question marks, esp due to guys like Bamba and Ayton been still so raw and far away from been real players, Porter and Carter gonna be solid for sure and Doncic is tremendous, but there is no Fultz there, I love Duval but he is a different type of player, and 2017 has Jackson, Tatum, Smith, and maybe even Giles too.
Getting to rank the depth or the guys after, it's just to complicated and uncertain at this point honestly.
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#132 » by jrob23 » Wed Jan 4, 2017 9:27 am

Duke4life831 wrote:
jrob23 wrote:So I didn't want to start talking about 2018 until I had a chance to do some research. A cursory glance last year made me think it would be a step below 2017 and above 2016's class. Now? I'm starting to get really excited for the class. There's potential for it to be on par if not better than 2017 which is saying a hell of a lot. There's so much more size than 2017. And, it isn't at the cost of guards either because there's lots of those too. Unlike 2017 where we are pretty set with what we're going to get, there is still a lot of time for kids to grow both physically and skills wise where they can enter the first round discussion. I won't know if it's as deep a class as 2017 but it's early.


2018 to me is the 99 cent version of 2017. I think just like 2017, 2018 has a top tier of about 5 guys. Now I think the 5 in 2018 are a step down from the 2017 guys but they're still something to get excited about. Ayton has all the physical tools you could ever ask for in a 5 in today's game. Bamba is Gobert with AD athleticism. Porter is a very explosive 6'10 wing with a very very promising jumper. Duval is a PG with great size, elite athleticism, an elite handle (better than Kyrie at the same age) and a jumper that is bad but has greatly improved his form so there is promise there. Than there is Carter who can either be looked at as a slightly more athletic Horford, or I'm starting to see some Cousins comparisons as well. I don't know anything about Euro guys but Doncic is supposed to be legit as well. I love the potential of the 5 guys, just a little more question marks compared to the guys at the top of the 2017 draft.

After them is where you start seeing the big difference between the 17 and 18 draft. The depth just isn't the same. You got guys like Troy Brown, Kevin Knox, Sexton, maybe Trent jr who are intriguing but they aren't the same type of prospects as guys like Monk, Markkanen, Fox, Isaac and so on. But I definitely think it's going to be a draft where if a team gets a top 5 pick they will be happy.


So because I'm obsessed I've been researching the 2018 freshmen like crazy and it's better than 2017. I remember saying this same thing last year (that 2017 was better than 2016 and an all time type of draft) before anyone else I read, and now I"m pretty confident I'll be the first to say 2018 is even better. Let's just compare by position:

Point guards

2017 Fultz, Ball, DSJ, Fox, Ntilikina

2018 Duval, Sexton, Trae Young, Scruggs, Hands, Felton

2018 is deeper for sure. Might be better too. Too early to tell.

Shooting guards

2017 Monk, Ferguson, Hart, Allen, Bacon, Mushidi, Diallo

2018 Trent Jr., Doncic (SF?), Brown (SF?), L. Walker, M.J. Walker, Petty, Bonga, Diallo (2017?)

Whichever class gets Diallo wins this race for now, but there's still time for kids to join the fray in 2018

Wings

2017 Tatum, Bridges, Isaac, Anunoby, Josh Jackson, Justin Jackson

2018 Porter (PF?), Doncic (SG?), Knox, Vanderbilt, Kurucs, Bowen, Wikes

another close call but edge to 2017

PF/C

2017 Giles, Markkanen, Adebayo, Leaf, Rabb, Patton, Allen (I'm not sure Williams or Hartenstein are worth mentioning)

2018 Ayton, Carter Jr, Bamba, Porter (SF?), Robinson, McCoy, Richards, Collins several others

Big win for 2018.

Just seems like at this early stage with still so many kids to come out of the woodwork, 2018 is comparable already but we know there will be additions in 2018 whereas I wouldn't expect more than 1 or 2 surprises for 2017.

Celtics CANNOT trade their BK picks!!!! Not with this much talent at stake.

You know, when you get real deep into the 2018 class you start to see more and more underclassmen i.e. 2019 class and damn there's some freaks in there too. This (2016-19) has to be the best 3 years of draft classes ever.
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#133 » by CptCrunch » Wed Jan 4, 2017 4:22 pm

NormanBU wrote:DraftExpress published their 2018 mock with 3 european players in the Top 9 and Doncic unsurprsingly in the Top 3: http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2018/


Collin Sexton went from unranked to consensus 5 star to top 10 mock draft in the span of months. What a time to be alive...

http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2016/10/24/13352040/collin-sexton-recruiting-5-star-rise-nike-aau-usa-basketball
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#134 » by Duke4life831 » Wed Jan 4, 2017 6:21 pm

jrob23 wrote:
So because I'm obsessed I've been researching the 2018 freshmen like crazy and it's better than 2017. I remember saying this same thing last year (that 2017 was better than 2016 and an all time type of draft) before anyone else I read, and now I"m pretty confident I'll be the first to say 2018 is even better. Let's just compare by position:

Point guards

2017 Fultz, Ball, DSJ, Fox, Ntilikina

2018 Duval, Sexton, Trae Young, Scruggs, Hands, Felton

2018 is deeper for sure. Might be better too. Too early to tell.

Shooting guards

2017 Monk, Ferguson, Hart, Allen, Bacon, Mushidi, Diallo

2018 Trent Jr., Doncic (SF?), Brown (SF?), L. Walker, M.J. Walker, Petty, Bonga, Diallo (2017?)

Whichever class gets Diallo wins this race for now, but there's still time for kids to join the fray in 2018

Wings

2017 Tatum, Bridges, Isaac, Anunoby, Josh Jackson, Justin Jackson

2018 Porter (PF?), Doncic (SG?), Knox, Vanderbilt, Kurucs, Bowen, Wikes

another close call but edge to 2017

PF/C

2017 Giles, Markkanen, Adebayo, Leaf, Rabb, Patton, Allen (I'm not sure Williams or Hartenstein are worth mentioning)

2018 Ayton, Carter Jr, Bamba, Porter (SF?), Robinson, McCoy, Richards, Collins several others

Big win for 2018.

Just seems like at this early stage with still so many kids to come out of the woodwork, 2018 is comparable already but we know there will be additions in 2018 whereas I wouldn't expect more than 1 or 2 surprises for 2017.

Celtics CANNOT trade their BK picks!!!! Not with this much talent at stake.

You know, when you get real deep into the 2018 class you start to see more and more underclassmen i.e. 2019 class and damn there's some freaks in there too. This (2016-19) has to be the best 3 years of draft classes ever.


I've been following this class for awhile it doesn't come close to the depth of 2017. I'm going to touch on the euro kids because either then youtube clips I know nothing on them.

PG for 2018
Duval and Sexton
That's it. Duval would be the only one someone would consider to put into the group of 3 from this draft and most still wouldn't with his native question mark of a jumper. Sexton has come out of nowhere the past year, but he's still not a better prospect than Fox. Trae Young does not have great pro potential because his size and lack of athleticism. Many will throw Troy Brown in this group and he still doesn't make this group close. 2017 has a huge edge in this position.

SG for 2018
Best is Walker. Trent Jr isn't a great pro prospect because he's a below average athlete and doesn't have great size to make up for it. Frank Jackson maybe the 2nd one taken in this draft. Walker and Frank both would go behind Ferguson in the 2017 draft. Another huge edge for 2017

SF for 2018
Porter is the only top tier prospect from this group. I could see his name being tossed around right with Tatum/Jackson or right after. Knox is the 2nd guy and he wouldn't go lottery in the 2017 draft. Isaac far better prospect, OG is a far better prospect. Massive edge just like PG for 2017

PF/C
I'll give you this one the combination of Ayton and Bamba plus Giles being an unknown for 2017 is enough to give 2018 the edge. You add in Carter and 2018 definitely has the more top tier talent. Depth wise it should be pretty solid as well expecting some of these freshman big like Allen to come back for another year. 2018 has the edge here.

Again 2018 has about 5 prospects teams will get excited about, it's a pretty steep drop off after that.
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#135 » by jrob23 » Wed Jan 4, 2017 10:07 pm

Duke4life831 wrote:
jrob23 wrote:
So because I'm obsessed I've been researching the 2018 freshmen like crazy and it's better than 2017. I remember saying this same thing last year (that 2017 was better than 2016 and an all time type of draft) before anyone else I read, and now I"m pretty confident I'll be the first to say 2018 is even better. Let's just compare by position:

Point guards

2017 Fultz, Ball, DSJ, Fox, Ntilikina

2018 Duval, Sexton, Trae Young, Scruggs, Hands, Felton

2018 is deeper for sure. Might be better too. Too early to tell.

Shooting guards

2017 Monk, Ferguson, Hart, Allen, Bacon, Mushidi, Diallo

2018 Trent Jr., Doncic (SF?), Brown (SF?), L. Walker, M.J. Walker, Petty, Bonga, Diallo (2017?)

Whichever class gets Diallo wins this race for now, but there's still time for kids to join the fray in 2018

Wings

2017 Tatum, Bridges, Isaac, Anunoby, Josh Jackson, Justin Jackson

2018 Porter (PF?), Doncic (SG?), Knox, Vanderbilt, Kurucs, Bowen, Wikes

another close call but edge to 2017

PF/C

2017 Giles, Markkanen, Adebayo, Leaf, Rabb, Patton, Allen (I'm not sure Williams or Hartenstein are worth mentioning)

2018 Ayton, Carter Jr, Bamba, Porter (SF?), Robinson, McCoy, Richards, Collins several others

Big win for 2018.

Just seems like at this early stage with still so many kids to come out of the woodwork, 2018 is comparable already but we know there will be additions in 2018 whereas I wouldn't expect more than 1 or 2 surprises for 2017.

Celtics CANNOT trade their BK picks!!!! Not with this much talent at stake.

You know, when you get real deep into the 2018 class you start to see more and more underclassmen i.e. 2019 class and damn there's some freaks in there too. This (2016-19) has to be the best 3 years of draft classes ever.


I've been following this class for awhile it doesn't come close to the depth of 2017. I'm going to touch on the euro kids because either then youtube clips I know nothing on them.

PG for 2018
Duval and Sexton
That's it. Duval would be the only one someone would consider to put into the group of 3 from this draft and most still wouldn't with his native question mark of a jumper. Sexton has come out of nowhere the past year, but he's still not a better prospect than Fox. Trae Young does not have great pro potential because his size and lack of athleticism. Many will throw Troy Brown in this group and he still doesn't make this group close. 2017 has a huge edge in this position.

SG for 2018
Best is Walker. Trent Jr isn't a great pro prospect because he's a below average athlete and doesn't have great size to make up for it. Frank Jackson maybe the 2nd one taken in this draft. Walker and Frank both would go behind Ferguson in the 2017 draft. Another huge edge for 2017

SF for 2018
Porter is the only top tier prospect from this group. I could see his name being tossed around right with Tatum/Jackson or right after. Knox is the 2nd guy and he wouldn't go lottery in the 2017 draft. Isaac far better prospect, OG is a far better prospect. Massive edge just like PG for 2017

PF/C
I'll give you this one the combination of Ayton and Bamba plus Giles being an unknown for 2017 is enough to give 2018 the edge. You add in Carter and 2018 definitely has the more top tier talent. Depth wise it should be pretty solid as well expecting some of these freshman big like Allen to come back for another year. 2018 has the edge here.

Again 2018 has about 5 prospects teams will get excited about, it's a pretty steep drop off after that.


I heard the same thing when in early discussions about the 2016 class and then again last year when discussing 2017. I'll say to you what I said to people back then...you'll come around. It's not easy to project kids to the next level and not surprising it takes concrete evidence and groupthink to get people to agree on draft class strength.

As good as 2017 is, 2018 will be better and deeper even if only by a little (like I think now) When pundits and "experts" start seeing these kids in tournaments this coming summer and reading their peers articles on them, it'll begin to leap out at the masses and you'll see...before mid 2017 NBA season...or right about now next season...most everyone will be saying 2018 is a stronger class and among the elite classes of all time. No teams will want to trade away picks and everyone will be clamoring to acquire them.

I do agree that SG/SF on its surface appears thin for 2018. But you just have to dig deeper and watch more tape/read more about them. Also, those positions end up getting the PG castoffs as kids grow and their skills/size better match those positions so while I give the edge to 2017 probably at this moment, I expect some names to be added making it closer or surpassing 2017. Trae Young is legit. Not on draft sites yet mind you but they really are hacks. He'll be one of the top guards in the country and does belong in the discussion. I'm hoping he chooses a big school but he might end up staying local to OK. He's cat quick with a great handle and shot at 6'2". He'll gain weight and maybe some height still. How is that bad size?

Edit: Adding Patton, Jeanne, Kurucs, and Lammers to the already long list of potential impact players in the 2017 class. This is the sort of thing that will happen to 2018 class too which is my point. But if it doesn't, their additions make 2017 class considerably better than 2018.
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#136 » by Marcus » Sun Jan 15, 2017 1:30 am

Bamba vs Ayton on ESPN right now.
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#137 » by DirtyDez » Sun Jan 15, 2017 5:44 am

Marcus wrote:Bamba vs Ayton on ESPN right now.


Ayton looked much better offensively but Bamba will dominate the boards in college.

Randolph looked fantastic. Miller finally pulling in offensive recruits.
fromthetop321 wrote:I got Lebron number 1, he is also leading defensive player of the year. Curry's game still reminds me of Jeremy Lin to much.
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#138 » by Brauer » Mon Jan 16, 2017 12:18 am

It's crazy how old a lot of these people are relative to their class. Bamba is as old as Fultz is.

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2018/
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#139 » by Marcus » Tue Jan 17, 2017 2:15 am

In case you weren't aware of the other big in the draft class, Wendell Carter is a beast. He showed off the pullup off the bounce today.

Did a little too much around the perimeter for my liking but I think that has more to do with the talent around him and not his game itself. I think when you put actual guards around him he'll flourish in a real way like he did during AAU last year with Collin Sexton. The jumper looks good. There is a real show and go threat from the elbow. He moved the offense around and called out sets for his team so there's good understanding there. Grown man rebounder, good footwork in the post, hits his free throws, and I was really impressed with his composure under the physical abuse he took in the game. He also plays with the mean streak that's missing from Ayton with the size that's missing from Bamba.

Easily the most complete of the 3 and a ridiculously high floor right now. If I were to compare this triplet of bigs to the triplet of wings in the 2014 class. I'd call Wendell Carter the Jabari Parker of the bunch in terms of being day one ready with what he brings to the table right now.
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft 

Post#140 » by Kolkmania » Wed Jan 18, 2017 12:47 pm

jrob23 wrote:
Duke4life831 wrote:
jrob23 wrote:
So because I'm obsessed I've been researching the 2018 freshmen like crazy and it's better than 2017. I remember saying this same thing last year (that 2017 was better than 2016 and an all time type of draft) before anyone else I read, and now I"m pretty confident I'll be the first to say 2018 is even better. Let's just compare by position:

Point guards

2017 Fultz, Ball, DSJ, Fox, Ntilikina

2018 Duval, Sexton, Trae Young, Scruggs, Hands, Felton

2018 is deeper for sure. Might be better too. Too early to tell.

Shooting guards

2017 Monk, Ferguson, Hart, Allen, Bacon, Mushidi, Diallo

2018 Trent Jr., Doncic (SF?), Brown (SF?), L. Walker, M.J. Walker, Petty, Bonga, Diallo (2017?)

Whichever class gets Diallo wins this race for now, but there's still time for kids to join the fray in 2018

Wings

2017 Tatum, Bridges, Isaac, Anunoby, Josh Jackson, Justin Jackson

2018 Porter (PF?), Doncic (SG?), Knox, Vanderbilt, Kurucs, Bowen, Wikes

another close call but edge to 2017

PF/C

2017 Giles, Markkanen, Adebayo, Leaf, Rabb, Patton, Allen (I'm not sure Williams or Hartenstein are worth mentioning)

2018 Ayton, Carter Jr, Bamba, Porter (SF?), Robinson, McCoy, Richards, Collins several others

Big win for 2018.

Just seems like at this early stage with still so many kids to come out of the woodwork, 2018 is comparable already but we know there will be additions in 2018 whereas I wouldn't expect more than 1 or 2 surprises for 2017.

Celtics CANNOT trade their BK picks!!!! Not with this much talent at stake.

You know, when you get real deep into the 2018 class you start to see more and more underclassmen i.e. 2019 class and damn there's some freaks in there too. This (2016-19) has to be the best 3 years of draft classes ever.


I've been following this class for awhile it doesn't come close to the depth of 2017. I'm going to touch on the euro kids because either then youtube clips I know nothing on them.

PG for 2018
Duval and Sexton
That's it. Duval would be the only one someone would consider to put into the group of 3 from this draft and most still wouldn't with his native question mark of a jumper. Sexton has come out of nowhere the past year, but he's still not a better prospect than Fox. Trae Young does not have great pro potential because his size and lack of athleticism. Many will throw Troy Brown in this group and he still doesn't make this group close. 2017 has a huge edge in this position.

SG for 2018
Best is Walker. Trent Jr isn't a great pro prospect because he's a below average athlete and doesn't have great size to make up for it. Frank Jackson maybe the 2nd one taken in this draft. Walker and Frank both would go behind Ferguson in the 2017 draft. Another huge edge for 2017

SF for 2018
Porter is the only top tier prospect from this group. I could see his name being tossed around right with Tatum/Jackson or right after. Knox is the 2nd guy and he wouldn't go lottery in the 2017 draft. Isaac far better prospect, OG is a far better prospect. Massive edge just like PG for 2017

PF/C
I'll give you this one the combination of Ayton and Bamba plus Giles being an unknown for 2017 is enough to give 2018 the edge. You add in Carter and 2018 definitely has the more top tier talent. Depth wise it should be pretty solid as well expecting some of these freshman big like Allen to come back for another year. 2018 has the edge here.

Again 2018 has about 5 prospects teams will get excited about, it's a pretty steep drop off after that.


I heard the same thing when in early discussions about the 2016 class and then again last year when discussing 2017. I'll say to you what I said to people back then...you'll come around. It's not easy to project kids to the next level and not surprising it takes concrete evidence and groupthink to get people to agree on draft class strength.

As good as 2017 is, 2018 will be better and deeper even if only by a little (like I think now) When pundits and "experts" start seeing these kids in tournaments this coming summer and reading their peers articles on them, it'll begin to leap out at the masses and you'll see...before mid 2017 NBA season...or right about now next season...most everyone will be saying 2018 is a stronger class and among the elite classes of all time. No teams will want to trade away picks and everyone will be clamoring to acquire them.

I do agree that SG/SF on its surface appears thin for 2018. But you just have to dig deeper and watch more tape/read more about them. Also, those positions end up getting the PG castoffs as kids grow and their skills/size better match those positions so while I give the edge to 2017 probably at this moment, I expect some names to be added making it closer or surpassing 2017. Trae Young is legit. Not on draft sites yet mind you but they really are hacks. He'll be one of the top guards in the country and does belong in the discussion. I'm hoping he chooses a big school but he might end up staying local to OK. He's cat quick with a great handle and shot at 6'2". He'll gain weight and maybe some height still. How is that bad size?

Edit: Adding Patton, Jeanne, Kurucs, and Lammers to the already long list of potential impact players in the 2017 class. This is the sort of thing that will happen to 2018 class too which is my point. But if it doesn't, their additions make 2017 class considerably better than 2018.


How long have you been scouting high school prospects? To me it seems like you are falling in love with the unknown. Sure, there might be plenty of SG/SF's that arise from the middle tier, but the opposite can happen for the top prospects. Lots of people stated here that Frank Jackson would be in the conversation for the best PG prospect, so far he's not even shown indications he could handle the responsibility of a primary ball handler.

Michael Porter jr. has been receiving a lot of attention lately, I'm not really buying it yet. He's quite explosive vertically, but laterally it's quite mediocre. So far he's looking more like a Chandler Parsons to me. Defensively he looks quite lazy at times.

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